Mumbai Diary: Sunday Dossier

Pic/Anurag Ahire

To each her own

Yoga and stretches share space as three ladies work out at Girgaum Chowpatty.

Feel them in spirit

On the second death anniversary of legend Lata Mangeshkar and the centenary birth anniversary of music director Madan Mohan, their legions of fans can head to Latanjali, a concert of Hindi film songs sung by Mangeshkar and composed by Madan Mohan. The tribute will be held at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Natyagruh in Vile Parle of February 6. Already, those who miss the golden oldies tell us that they're looking forward to gems like Hamare Baad Ab Mehfil Mein Afsane Bayan Honge and Naino Mein Badara Chhaye, in an age where lyrics like Oo La La Oo La La Tu Chaabi Mai Taala dominate.

Save my Goa trees

What do you do when you are an ecologist, but also a musician? You make sure your songs speak of the injustice being done to nature around you, and ask for intervention. Singer and songwriter Ditty is doing just that with her next single, Money. The ecologist, who has lived in Goa for three years, says that the song was inspired by the rampant deforestation in Goa, and her own pain at watching swathes of trees being cut for infrastructure. "I used to live in this sleepy little town called Betim in Goa, by the river and there was a forest behind my house. Once, I came back home from a tour, and saw that all the trees were gone!" The song is arranged with samples from forests in Goa, of sounds of falling trees, sawing machines, crying animals and a mourning trumpet. "How can we go on as a society? It's gone too far and how are we going to make repairs?" she asks.

Sought after

Suresh Kumra (left) and her daughter Aahana

Cop-turned-lawyer Suresh Kumra is currently besieged by writers, we hear. The retired CBI officer wowed us all when she cleared her Law degree with an outstanding 90 per cent at the age of 68 in 2020. We caught up with her daughter, actress Aahana Kumra, earlier this week, who let us in on the dope. "I've grown up in Kotwalis," she chuckled, "and would frequently visit her office in Tanna House in Colaba as well. Now that she is no longer serving, there are so many writers getting in touch, trying to be the first to write her story." The celebrated cop started off as an officer in Lucknow and went on to serve in the CBI in Mumbai, winning a President's Medal for her service. Only time will tell if the senior Kumra agrees. But that is one book we'd love to read!

A cricket trophy to commemorate a tragedy!

The Tangiwai Shield. Pic/New Zealand Cricket

While the Indian cricket board continues to underplay the importance of the Anthony de Mello Trophy, for which India and England are supposed to play in Test matches featuring both these cricket giants on Indian soil, New Zealand and South Africa will now play for the Tangiwai Shield. The two-Test series kicks off in Mount Maunganui, NZ, today. The trophy is instituted to remember a 1953 tragedy which involved the death of 151 people in a Wellington to Auckland train journey, a day before Christmas while NZ were playing South Africa in Johannesburg. "The Shield, created by carver David Ngawati, is made from NZ native timber puriri, and includes an inlaid mere made from pounamu sourced from the Tangiwai region," said a media release. Among the 151 dead in the rail disaster was Nerissa Love, the fiancé of NZ fast bowler Bob Blair, who was part of that Kiwi squad in SA. A stunned Blair stayed back in his hotel, but made an appearance when his team needed him towards the end of the innings on the second day of the Test. Interestingly, Blair, 91, who now lives in the UK is the only surviving player from that Test.